NAIROBI — Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has laid out a timeline of the final hours leading up to the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under unclear circumstances in police custody just hours after his arrest. His death has ignited fresh concerns over freedom of expression and police accountability in the country.
Speaking before the Senate on Tuesday, IG Kanja detailed how Ojwang was linked to a string of social media posts accusing a top police official of corruption—allegations the police now say were false.
“This matter started on 4 June when a formal complaint was filed by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat,” said Kanja. “He claimed that malicious and false information had been published about him on social media.”
The posts, shared on the platform X (formerly Twitter), accused Langat of placing trusted officers in charge of key police departments to manipulate intelligence and pocket public funds. One particularly striking post included a photo of Langat next to an officer named Chirchir, alongside claims that he had bought a $2.6 million property in Dubai.
The case was quickly escalated. Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were assigned to track down the account’s origin under the country’s cybercrime laws.
According to Kanja, the team reached out to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), which confirmed the X account was active and had about 13,400 followers. The CAK also provided registration details, helping identify individuals allegedly behind the posts—one of whom was Albert Ojwang.
Meanwhile, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) issued a swift response, stating that Langat was not under investigation. Kanja said that, with that information, police concluded the allegations online were “entirely baseless.”
Arrests soon followed. On 5 June, police picked up Kelvin Muinde, one of the suspects, who then reportedly named Ojwang and several others as co-authors of the content.
Two days later, Ojwang was arrested at his rural home by officers from Mawego Police Station, accompanied by DCI officers from Nairobi. During a stop in Narok, officers said he was given soda, water, and biscuits before continuing the journey.
He was booked into Central Police Station in Nairobi at 9:35 p.m. on 7 June. Constable Mohamed Rashid, who handled the booking, noted that Ojwang appeared physically and mentally fine at the time. Ojwang even managed to phone his wife, telling her he had arrived safely.
But less than four hours later, tragedy struck.
“At 1:31 a.m. on 8 June, Ojwang was declared dead at Mbagathi Hospital,” said Kanja. “He had been found unconscious in his cell during a routine check and rushed there immediately.”
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) was notified shortly after. However, questions remain about what happened between the time Ojwang made that call and the time he was found unresponsive.
Rights groups and political leaders have condemned the incident. President William Ruto, in a public statement, called for “a swift and credible investigation,” adding that “freedom of expression must never be punished with death.”
IPOA later confirmed that CCTV footage from the Central Police Station may have been tampered with, raising fears of a cover-up. “We are investigating all possible angles, including the integrity of the evidence,” an IPOA official told reporters.
Despite IG Kanja’s detailed account, public trust remains fragile. Many Kenyans, especially young people who dominate online spaces, fear the growing reach of cybercrime laws could be used to silence critics.
“We are not saying people should post lies,” said human rights lawyer Wanjiku Mburu. “But this should have been a defamation suit in court, not a matter that ends with a man dead in custody.”
Ojwang’s family has called for an independent post-mortem and full transparency from the authorities.
As investigations continue, the country remains on edge, with many watching closely to see if justice will truly be served.
